Supporting Women in Trades - From the Ground Up

Blundstone Australia is proud to support and advocate for women in trades with the best footwear options, designed and made specifically for women.  
 
Women are vital to addressing critical trade shortages, adding diverse skills to the workforce and bringing productivity, innovation and fresh perspectives to trade environments.  
 
Trade careers can also positively impact women’s economic security and job satisfaction, however, there is still work to be done to ensure women are supported throughout all levels of trades, from apprenticeships to management and beyond.  
 
Flexible study and apprenticeship options, more accommodating and supportive workplaces, and safety equipment that doesn’t unfairly disadvantage women are just some of the issues currently being addressed by forward-thinking organisations in both the public and private sectors. Eliminating these barriers to entry is a fundamental first step in tackling critical issues such as the national skills shortage.

 

A 2024 statement from The Hon Andrew Giles MP, Minister for Skills and Training, shows that almost 80% more women are training as apprentices in male-dominated trades like construction, clean energy and advanced manufacturing. 
 
Although these figures are promising thanks to government initiatives like the Women in Trades Strategy and investment in apprenticeship support services, the bigger picture shows that women are still largely under-represented in traditionally male-dominated industries. 
 
In Australian industries with major skills shortages, such as construction, electrotechnology and automotive, women make up only 2% of qualified trade workers.

 

Historically, apprenticeships have been designed around the needs of young male school leavers, while older people and women have few alternative pathways to these occupations. As a result, many miss out on the jobs they are best suited for, while chronic skills shortages persist.*
 
More flexible trade pathways that allow different study and work patterns may also be required to fit around family commitments for women who may be the primary caregivers. Government-supported initiatives by training organisations are starting to better support this need, with after-hours training programs and different study modes helping women overcome the barriers to entering the trades or changing careers later in life. 

Career and Employer Support 
Aspiring female tradespeople may be reluctant to become apprentices out of concern that gender bias and male-dominated work culture will limit their career opportunities and job satisfaction.
 
Few women pursue apprenticeships, and even fewer end up qualified. But the women who do qualify and work in the industry frequently report high job satisfaction and career success. Georgia Foley is one such individual, recognised for her success in a highly male-dominated trade: electrotechnology in the mining sector.  
 
Often the only woman on site at Whitehaven Coal in Narrabri, Georgia acknowledges the challenges she faces working in a male-dominated sector. The experience has allowed Georgia to develop her communication skills and build her self-confidence and resilience. Despite these challenges, Georgia finds her job highly rewarding and wants to serve as a role model to encourage other women to consider a career in the trades.  
 
“My apprenticeship helped shape who I am today. It’s made me more outgoing, confident and strong. I highly recommend apprenticeships to women who are strong-minded and willing to get in there and have a go – there are so many benefits and you get so much from it,” said Georgia. 

Access to Appropriate PPE 
Of course, for women to succeed in trade roles they need to be fully supported with appropriate equipment – including well-fitting, purpose-designed safety footwear.  
 
At Blundstone, ensuring that women have access to a range of suitable safety footwear choices is something we take seriously. A typical woman’s foot is both shorter and narrower than a typical man’s foot, so a small men's boot may be the right length but not the right width. And, having to wear the wrong safety boots due to a lack of choice can increase the chances of tripping and cause discomfort if not designed specifically for womens’ needs.  
 
As a result, Blundstone has developed several women's specific safety boots that are carefully designed to suit the different structural needs, widths, sizes and arch shapes of women's feet.

 

Blundstone’s RotoFlex series is a world-leading biomechanical range for the modern worker. With a range of women's specific styles, these safety boots ensure that women working in the most challenging environmental conditions can remain safe and protected from injury. 

#8863 Women’s RotoFlex 
Models like the RotoFlex #8863 safety boots are a lightweight option, designed and made for women. Technology such as the Griptek®HD Sole provides a strong foundation uniquely designed for optimum grip and comfort, while INFINERGY® E-TPU by BASF offers a super elastic energy foam that is soft but resilient, providing enhanced cushioning and reducing the impact of every step.  
 
Combined with purpose-designed dimensions for a supportive, comfortable all-day fit, these stone coloured boots are available in women's sizes 5-12.  

#9960 Women’s RotoFlex 
Also designed and made for women are the RotoFlex #9960 safety boots in Wheat. Seamlessly integrating style and function, Blundstone’s unique zoned airflow footbed keeps feet well-ventilated while the GripTek®XHD Sole offers optimum grip and stability, as well as fuel oil, cut, slip and heat resistance to 300 ̊C.  
 
This safety boot offers optimum fit, support and comfort for women in many industrial trades.  

#9961 Women’s RotoFlex 
Built for hard work, the RotoFlex #9961 black safety boots are designed to keep female tradies safe and comfortable on the job. A durable GripTek® XHD Nitrile rubber outsole provides dependable performance and protection on any terrain.  
 
Like the styles mentioned above, the #9961 also incorporates a SOFTCELL® overarching comfort system – a unique biomechanical foot-cradling design to increase stability, balance, comfort and manoeuvrability and reduce the risk of trips, slips and falls. 

 

Blundstone has been designing and manufacturing award-winning safety footwear for over 150 years and we continue to adapt and innovate to suit the needs of tomorrow’s diverse workforce. For more information on our high-quality, Australian-designed women’s work and safety boots, take a look at our complete range via our website and find your nearest retailer.  
 
 
 
*NSW Productivity Commissioner - Productivity Commission White Paper: Rebooting the Economy